Best Point Cloud Processing Software for Linux of 2025

CloudCompare is a free and open-source software designed for processing 3D point clouds and triangular meshes. Initially created to facilitate the comparison of dense 3D point clouds, it has now transformed into a versatile solution for a wide range of 3D data processing activities. The application provides a variety of functionalities, including projection techniques, registration methods such as Iterative Closest Point (ICP), and calculations of distances between both clouds and meshes, along with statistical analysis, segmentation, and the estimation of geometric features. Users are able to manage multiple scalar fields associated with each point cloud, implement algorithms for smoothing and gradient evaluation, and visualize their data using dynamic color rendering options. The interactive tools included in the software make it easy to segment, rotate, translate, and measure 3D objects. CloudCompare is capable of supporting a wide array of input and output formats and is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. Additionally, the software incorporates a plugin system that allows users to enhance its functionality further, making it a highly adaptable tool for 3D data analysis and visualization. With its growing community, users can benefit from continuous updates and a wealth of shared resources.

Agisoft Metashape is an independent software solution designed for the photogrammetric analysis of digital images, producing 3D spatial data applicable in GIS, documentation of cultural heritage, visual effects, and for measuring objects across different scales. Users of Agisoft Metashape who have created an Agisoft Account can take advantage of the Agisoft Cloud platform, which provides cloud-based processing services. This feature enables users to offload projects to the cloud, effectively reducing the need for significant investment in hardware for photogrammetry tasks. Additional functionalities include the online visualization of processing outcomes, options for sharing results, and tools for generating embedded codes to integrate models into websites seamlessly. The service operates on a subscription basis for storage, while processing time is billed per minute, allowing for flexible usage tailored to individual project needs. This structure supports users in managing costs while maximizing the efficiency of their photogrammetric workflows.

AWS Thinkbox Sequoia is a dedicated software application designed for processing point clouds and creating meshes, and it is compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms. The application can handle point cloud and mesh data in a variety of widely-used formats, efficiently converting point cloud information into a streamlined and rapid-access intermediate cache format. Sequoia incorporates advanced workflows that prioritize the retention of high-precision data, enabling users to visualize all or selected portions of the point cloud through adaptive, view-dependent techniques. Users have the ability to manipulate, trim, and alter point cloud data, create meshes from the point clouds, and enhance the quality of the generated meshes. Additionally, the software facilitates the projection of images onto points and meshes, as well as the creation of mesh vertex colors, Ptex, or UV-based textures derived from the colors of the point clouds and image projections. Moreover, it allows for the export of the generated meshes to various industry-standard mesh file formats and seamlessly integrates with Thinkbox Deadline, enabling the conversion, meshing, and export of point cloud data across network nodes, thereby improving productivity and efficiency in 3D modeling tasks. In doing so, Sequoia ultimately enhances the overall workflow for professionals working with complex spatial data.

Open source software for editing and processing 3D triangular meshes. It includes tools for editing, cleaning and healing, inspecting, inspecting, inspecting, rendering texturing, texturing, and converting meshes. It can process raw data from 3D digitization devices/tools, and prepare models for 3D printing. This version supports several file formats (.gltf.glb.nxs.nxz.e57) as well as a plugin for exact meshbooleans. The 3D data alignment phase, also known as registration, is an essential step in the process of processing 3D scanned data. MeshLab is a powerful tool that allows you to move the different meshes into one common reference system. It can also manage large range-maps. MeshLab uses a fine-tuned ICP one-to-1 alignment step, followed with a global bundle adjustment error distribution step. The alignment can be done on point clouds and meshes from multiple sources, including active scanners (both short-range and long-range).